Course Break Notes · 12 stories

Between the Courses

I write about restaurant meals and small dining moments around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Yeoksam Station Chinese dinner: level 1.5 jjamppong, Jjamppong Jijon

Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch (짬뽕지존 역삼점) is a spacious Chinese restaurant that takes up the entire second floor of a building on Teheran-ro 10-gil, near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After work, the writer ordered fried eggplant, sundubu (soft tofu) jjamppong at spice level 1.5 and jijon jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), then used the self-bar and finished with a dessert drink. Jjamppong Jijon Yeoksam Branch is an easy pick near Yeoksam Station for both solo meals and team dinners.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seonjeongneung lunch-break lash lift, damaged lashes: On The Boutique

On The Boutique is a lash lift salon right by Seonjeongneung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. After more than two months without a lash lift left her lashes uneven and badly damaged, an office worker visited On The Boutique on her lunch break. There she got a consultation that checked how the curl would sit against her eyelids and her uneven inner eye corners, followed by the On The Signature Perm. Two days later the On The Signature Perm still held a bouncy, hydrated curl, and she was satisfied enough to make On The Boutique her regular salon from next month.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulBars

Sharosu-gil terrace pub for strawberry makgeolli: Hwarong Jujeom

Hwarong Jujeom (화룡주점) is a Korean pub on Sharosu-gil near Seoul National University Station in Gwanak, Seoul, known for hanwoo beef dishes and pressure-cooker dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken). On a cool autumn night the writer came to Hwarong Jujeom for a second round and kept it light on the outdoor terrace with strawberry makgeolli (rice wine), a cheese-topped rolled omelet and pineapple sherbet. Thanks to strawberry makgeolli that even light drinkers can enjoy and the relaxed terrace, Hwarong Jujeom made a satisfying second-round bar.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ date in Euljiro 3-ga after a spat: Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui

Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui (을지백탄뼈구이) is a charcoal-grilled pork bone restaurant right in front of Exit 11 of Euljiro 3-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a small spat with her boyfriend, the writer ordered the small white charcoal bone grill at spice level 1 (39,000 won), kimjaban (seasoned seaweed flake) rice balls and jjabaegi, and the smoky bone grill with grilled scallions had them making up before they knew it. For a generous Euljiro drinking spot a step from the station, Eulji Baektan Ppyeogui is a good choice.

Written Sep 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam-daero waxing shop with painless tweezing: Nu Waxing & Brow

Nu Waxing & Brow is a waxing shop on the 7th floor of the Jump Milano building with MIXXO, next to CGV on Gangnam-daero between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul. The writer stopped in straight after Pilates, still in workout clothes, for a Brazilian wax, and the tweezing and ingrown hair care never hurt; with the soothing modeling pack, the whole visit took about 30 minutes. The staff at Nu Waxing & Brow work fast enough for an office worker to fit a session into a lunch break, and the writer is already planning a return visit.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong Korean BBQ Saturday night wait: yangnyeom galbi, Jeongyukdo

Jeongyukdo is a Korean BBQ restaurant near exit 5 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul, serving 1++ hanwoo beef and 1st-grade handon pork. On a Saturday evening visit, Jeongyukdo's handon set of ribs, pork belly and pork neck came with doenjang stew, followed by add-on orders of yangnyeom galbi (marinated grilled ribs) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold buckwheat noodles). With an outdoor patio, sectioned indoor seating and 3,200 won draft beer, Jeongyukdo suits both a date and a group dinner.

Written Sep 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Hangangjin Station izakaya with corkage and beef tartare: Hannam Tatsu

Hannam Tatsu is an izakaya on Hannam-daero 20-gil in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul, with a woody but upscale interior, private rooms and standing-bar (datchi) seats. On a weekday evening booked through Catchtable, Hannam Tatsu served Korean beef tartare with gim-bugak (crisp fried seaweed, 40,000 won), squid ink pasta topped with sea urchin and abalone (30,000 won) and an Ilpumjinro tonic set. Corkage is only offered to guests reserving before 8pm, but otherwise Hannam Tatsu works easily for both dates and friend gatherings.

Written Sep 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeongjong, IncheonRestaurants

Group dinner meat buffet in Yeongjong with tripe self-bar: Jangsodam

Jangsodam Yeongjong Direct Store is an all-you-can-eat eel, beef, pork and chicken buffet in the Sky City area of Yeongjong, Incheon. Visiting with a friend's family, the writer ordered Set C (six beef cuts, pork and yukhoe raw beef) for 32,000 won and filled up at the self-bar with chewy sundae blood sausage, three kinds of tripe, instant ramyeon and seasoned raw crab. With wide tables and 3 hours of free parking, Jangsodam works well for a group dinner in Yeongjong.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNamdong, IncheonRestaurants

Guwol-dong BBQ: six pork cuts in one 600g platter at Euljiro Charcoal

Euljiro Charcoal Grill Guwol Branch is a charcoal-grilled pork restaurant in Guwol-dong, Namdong, Incheon, right across from the Lotte Department Store on Rodeo Street. Ordering the pork one-geun set (600g mixed) brings six cuts — pork belly, pork neck, dwitgogi (pork shoulder cut), hangjeong (pork jowl), galmaegi (pork skirt meat), and gyeopdae (pork skin) — alongside a 2,500 won doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a vegetable-packed self-serve bar. In an era of high prices, this is a solid recommendation for a good-value meat meal in Guwol-dong.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulBars

Hapjeong cocktail bar with the Summer Sunlight art cocktail: Rosetta

Rosetta is a cocktail and whiskey bar on Eoulmadang-ro, between Hapjeong Station and Hongdae in Mapo, Seoul. Four friends stopped by for a second round after drinks and ordered the art cocktail Summer Sunlight, Balvenie whiskey, Macunaima, and a bartender's recommendation, with Summer Sunlight winning the night as the group's goat. Low-alcohol, ade-like cocktails and genuinely attentive recommendations made this a satisfying second-round spot.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hapjeong pork ribs with chicken porridge and corn cheese: Champpoppo

Champpoppo Jjokgalbi Hapjeong Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Mapo, Seoul, serving jjokgalbi (pork back ribs). On a busy Friday evening, we ordered 3 portions of soy-marinated ribs and 1 portion of seasoned ribs, plus tuna rice balls and cheesy steamed egg. The seasoned ribs were the clear winner—I’d order more next time!

Written Sep 9, 2026Sponsored
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